PASTORS PERSPECTIVE: God is doing a ‘New Thing’ in South Sudan and SE Minnesota

There is a new thing coming into the world this year. It is something that doesn’t come around very often. It is a new church. God is birthing a new church body in a new country. The newest nation in the world is The Republic of South Sudan which formed in July 9, 2011. And now the newest denominational body is coming into form as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Africa – Mission in South Sudan. This new church is coming into being at two points of reference. The first is the Reconciliation Lutheran Church, Community Center and Clinic in Juba, South Sudan which was dedicated in 2017. This is a wonderful point of light in a country in need of such points of light. The people of Juba have a place to come and worship, to learn and to have medical needs attended to.

And the second point of reference is the Lutheran communities forming in refugee camps and communities in Gambella, Ethiopia under the guidance of Pastor Wal Reat. Wal Reat is a South Sudanese person and U.S. citizen, who was ordained in the ELCA in Faribault, MN and served at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Faribault and has now returned to minister to his people in Gambella, Ethiopia. The work he started there has turned into 29 worshipping communities, which are bringing the emergence of this newest church.

This new mission has been supported by the South Sudanese worshipping communities in Southeastern Minnesota. In many ways, SE MN has been the center of the mission of South Sudan in the Lutheran Church. There are Sudanese worshipping communities in Owatonna, Faribault, Albert Lea, Austin, Mankato and Rochester. They speak the languages of Nuer, Dinka and Anyuak. Here in Owatonna at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church we have a Nuer speaking community that is led by Minister Yang Tut. He has led his community in Owatonna for over 10 years.

Our Savior’s in Owatonna has the pleasure of hosting the signing of the Covenant between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the new Evangelical Lutheran Church in Africa. This Covenant signing will be on Saturday, January 26. All the South Sudanese Communities of SE Minnesota will come together to celebrate this great event! All are welcome to join this wonderful celebration. The signing service will be at 6:00pm on the 26th. All are welcome!

We rejoice in the Spirit’s work in and through our South Sudanese siblings in the newly forming Evangelical Lutheran Church in Africa – Mission in South Sudan (ELCA-MSS)! We respond to the Spirit’s call to join the Christ-centered relationship that we share across continents! We bask in the Spirit’s Love in bringing us together to celebrate as one global congregation!